THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Directorate of Vocational Higher Secondary Education (VHSE) will introduce in October a mobile service to market the products made at the production-cum-training centre attached to vocational higher secondary schools.

VHSE director Sajith Vijayaraghavan told The Hindu that the directorate was considering purchasing a bus from the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) for the purpose. Students who passed vocational courses would man this unit, which would tour villages and semi-urban areas.

The products, ranging from electronic chokes and emergency lamps to jams, squashes, pickles, paper plates, paper bags, biofertilizers, biopesticides, notebooks and files, would be sold cheaper than the market price. "For instance, the electronic choke made by the students is being sold for Rs.100, that too with a warranty. If a person purchases an electronic choke in the open market, he will have to pay anything from Rs.150 to Rs.175," Mr. Vijayaraghavan said.

Besides sales, the students would make presentations on the advantages of joining vocational higher secondary courses and on the quality of the products. The idea was to popularise vocational higher secondary courses in every village in the State.

Various products are made by students of 24 of the 42 vocational higher secondary courses offered in the State. Those in the other courses are setting up consultancy services related to their course of study. For instance, the students who do a vocational course in maintenance of and repairs to two and three-wheelers are now setting up repair centres near their schools. The repairs will be done at a much cheaper rate than what is charged at regular workshops.

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